Yes and no. The Microcon is only one osc (FR777 = 2), but the Microcon has
at least a couple of features the 777 does not: two wave LFO and attack
control on the EG. Like its pale-by-comparison ancestor (303), the 777 has
no control over attack, nor does it have a LFO and that kind of sucks
sometimes.
The Microcon combo is two items: the synth (they're actually introducing a
MIDI-capable version now) and the sequencer. The Cyclodon sequencer is your
old-fashioned analog sequencer with 16 knobs. It also has Roland-style
sync24 (via din input) so you can be "retro groove-approved" with your other
Roland synths.
The 777 sequencer is much more complex, but you get absolute note values.
With the Cyclodon (the Microcon's sibling), you get 0-5V with each knob, no
quantization. The 777 sequencer also has this neat "feature" in that even if
the gate is "off" on a certain step, that step still contains a note value
which still goes to the CV output. It just won't sound internally. You can
therefore sequence a bassline on your MOTM with the CV out of the 777, using
an alternate gate or trigger source, while the 777 is playing, say, hi-hats
(it has a noise source for audio and HPF).
The sequencer has 16 steps, with 16 corresponding switches. When you
activate a switch, the gate is high for that step. If you wish the gate to
traverse more than one step, merely hold down the switch for the beginning
of the gate and then press the final position for the gate. The subsequent
switches light up dimly so you can see what's going on. You can add accent
and glide (precog portamento) to any step. You also set a loop point for the
pattern, so you're not limited to a minimum of 16 steps.
I've used the 777 to sequence a self-oscillating 420 (MOTM content!) and it
works like a champ. I really wish for a future version that has more than
one simultaneous sequence, and corresponding extra CV and gate outputs.
You have complete freedom to move between sequences and banks (16 banks of
16 sequences each) while the sequencer is running. IT NEVER GLITCHES--NEVER!
Also, it will not activate another sequence until you choose another. In
other words, even if you switch banks, it will not jump to sequence 1 in
bank 4 if you were just on sequence 1 of bank 2. It will wait for you to
activate the new sequence (by pressing its corresponding switch).
The synth is no slouch. It has a really great, wicked sound, but it can also
sound nice and smooth. It has the 303-style, sounds-like-18dB/oct-filter as
well as a 24dB/oct filter. With FM (either osc FMing the other, with
envelope too) and some bizarre CV -> filter stuff, you have the makings of
something that sounds nothing at all like a 303 unless you really, really
want it to.
For song-length, complex work (i.e., not the repetitive techno crap I make),
it's a bit of a pain because, unlike the 303 or other sequencers that allow
you to chain patterns (so you can have more than 16 steps or to audition
several sequential patterns in context), you have to chain patterns as a
song. This really isn't that big of a deal, but it would be nice to be able
to edit several patterns sequentially without having to program them into a
song (which is really quite simple).
With everything I've said, good and bad, you'll have to pry this thing from
my cold, dead hands. I mean, hell, it has wooden end cheeks! :)
David.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DAVEVOSH@... [mailto:DAVEVOSH@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 5:54 PM
> To: motm@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [motm] FR/MOTM unite!
>
>
> From: DAVEVOSH@...
>
> In a message dated 00-02-15 19:44:14 EST, you write:
>
> << Future-Retro FR777
> Combination 2-osc monosynth (with sub-oscs, FM, lots of weirdness) and
> sequencer >>
>
>
>
> dave,
> okay, thanks for the info..... doesn`t technosaurus make
> something like this?
> a mini-synth and sequencer combo?
> i`ll take a look at the fr website!
> best,
> dave
>
>
>
>
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